Target-trap



(No Moaei.

C. & M. SWAN. TARGET TRAP.

No. 444,373. Patented Jam-6, 1891.

Wz hwsses 4 Invemlors:

UNITED STATES PATE T OFFICE.

CHARLES SWAN AND MAGGIE SWAN, OF CORRY, PENNSYLVANIA.

TARG ET-TRAP.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No.444,373, dated January 6, 1891.

Application filed September 8, 1890. Serial No, 364,302. (No model.)

To aZl whom, it may concern:

Be it known that we, CHARLES SWAN and MAGGIE SWAN, of Corry, in the county of Erie and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Target-Traps; and we do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it pertains to make and use it, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form part of this specification.

Our invention relates to an improvement in target-traps; and it consists in the combination of the lever having a curved slot formed through its outer end, a target-carrier loosely connected to theouter slotted end of the lever by means of suitable frictional devices, and which carrier is provided with a stationary shoulder against which the target bears, a guard to hold the target in contact with the carrier, and a spring-actuated lever connected to the carrier through a slot and having a movable shoulder or bearing connected to its outer end, as will be more fully described hereinafter.

The object of our invention is to provide an implement for throwing targets and upon which the target is tightly clamped until the forward movement of the lever gives a suitable impulse to the target, when it is suddenly released and flies off through the airin any desired direction.

Figure 1 is a plan view of the implement, taken from one side. Fig. 2 is a similar view taken from the opposite side. Fig. 3 is an edge view.

A represents the lever, which is made from a suitable flat piece of material. The outer end of the lever is made curved, as shown, and through this curved part is formed a slot B of any desired length and curve. Upon the outer edge of this curved end of the lever is formed the shoulder O for operating the releasing mechanism. Loosely connected to the outer end of this lever through the slot B is the target-carrier D, which is preferably made of the shape shown, and which has a movement through a portion of acurve equal to the length of the slot 13. Extending through this target-carrierD and through the slotB are the screws F, each one of which is provided with a spring G and a regulatingnut 1. Passed over both of these screws F and bearing directly against the outer end of the le ver A is a flat plate H, and which plate is forced against the end of the lever by the two springs G, which have their tension regulated by the nuts applied to the outer end of the screws. By increasing or decreasing the tension of the springs the friction between the lever A and the plate H is increased or decreased according as it is desired to have the carrier move more or less easily. This carrier is provided with two prongs, which are preferably of the shape shown and upon which the target rests. To the outer end of one of these prongs is secured the stationary stop or shoulder J, which consists of a suitable projection around which any soft substance is placed, such as cork, rubber, or anything of that kind which will prevent the target from being broken. Also secured to this carrier D near its inner end is the L-shaped guard O, which catches over the top of the target and holds it in contact with the carrier, so that it cannot fall or drop off from the carrier, and so that the target cannot fly in any other than the desired direction.

Loosely applied to the opposite side of the carrier D from the guard O is the lever L, which has its inner end made rounding, as

shown, and connected to the carrier through the slot N, so. that the lever L can have an endwise-sliding movement upon the carrier.

To the outer end of the lever L is secured a projection or shoulder Q, which extends through the slot R in the carrier, and is also covered with rubber, cork, or any other suitable substance. Applied to this lever L is the spring S, which has one of its ends fastened to the carrier D, and which serves to draw the lever L end wise, and thus keep the projection or shoulder Q drawn into the inner end of the slot B. As the carrier is sweeping through a portion of a circle the inner curved end of this lever L strikes against the shoulder G on the curved end of the lever A and forces the lever L outward against the tension of the spring S, so that the stop or shoulder Q will release the target and allow it to fly through the air.

The target, of any suitable construction, is placed between the guard O, the stationary stop or shoulder J, and the movable stop or shoulder Q, while the stop or shoulder Q is moved to the inner end of the slot R. \Vhpn the carrier is moved around toward the outer edge of the leverAand the leverL has dropped down behind the shoulder C, the spring S causes the movable stop or shoulder Q to move into the inner end of the slot R and thus assist in clamping the target in position. \Vhen the outer end of the lever is forcibly thrown or moved outward, the carrier D moves around upon the curved end of the lever A, following the slot B until the inner curved end of the lever L strikes against the shoulder 0, when the lever L is forced outward, carrying the movable stop or shoulder Q to the outer end of the slot B, when the target flies olf through the air. As will be seen, the target is securely held until after the lever L is operated, by which time the lever A has had sufficient momentum imparted to it to send the target into the air.

Having thus described our invention, we elai1n 1. The combination of a throwing-lever pivoted at one end; having a curved slot in its opposite end, and a target-carrier loosely connected with the lever through the slot and having a spring-actuated lever forholding the target and which engages the outer end of the throwing-lever, which latter is provided with a raised portion for tripping the holdinglever, substantially as described.

2. The combination of the lever provided with a curved slot in its end, a target-carrier which sweeps through a portion of a circle and which is loosely connected to the outer end of the lever through the said slot, a guard for catching over the outer side of the target, a stationary shoulder or stop rigidly secured to the carrier, a movable stop or carrier, and an automatically-operating mechanism for moving the carrier to release the target, substantially as described.

The combination of the lever A, provided with a curved slotin its outer end with the target-carrier, which is connected with the said lever through the slot, provided with means for holding and releasing the target, and a spring-actuated friction device for regu lating the movement upon the lever, substantially as set forth.

4. The combination of the lever provided with a curved slot through its outer end and the shoulder C with the target-carrier loosely connected by a suitable frictional device through the slot to the lever, the lever L, loosely connected to the carrier so as to have an endwise movement and having the stop or shouldcrQ secured toits outer end, the spring S, the guard O, and the stationary stop or shoulder J, substantially as specified.

In testimony whereof we affix our signatures in presence of two witnesses.

CHARLES SWAN. MAGGIE S\VAl\'.

Witnesses:

A. II. BINLINGAM, JOHN F. \VESTROM. 

